Derek Kraus Bio
Derek Kenneth Kraus (born September 1, 2001) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for NY Racing Team. He has also previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, and ARCA Menards Series East and West. He won the 2019 West Series championship when the series was known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and is a former NASCAR Next member. He is also a simulator driver for Kaulig Racing.
Early Life and Background
Derek Kenneth Kraus was born on September 1, 2001, in Stratford, Wisconsin. He grew up immersed in motorsports culture, with his father Mark Kraus having raced super late models throughout the 2000s. That family connection to racing gave Kraus an early introduction to the world of competitive motorsports and helped shape his path into the sport.
Kraus started racing in go-karts and bandoleros, winning the GSR Kartway championship in both 2012 and 2013. He also competed in bandoleros at State Park Speedway, winning the track championship there in 2013. In 2014, he captured both the State Park and state bandoleros championships. He later moved up to Midwest trucks and super late models, competing in seven Super Late Model races at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida to begin the 2015 season.
During 2015, Kraus entered the American Ethanol SuperTruck Series and became the youngest driver to win a feature at Rockford Speedway at just thirteen years old. A few days before his fourteenth birthday, he scored his first Super Late Model victory. That same year, he competed full-time in the Midwest Truck Series and claimed the series championship. In 2016, he ran in the ARCA Midwest Tour, finishing fourth in the overall standings and surpassing Matt Kenseth as the youngest driver to win a race in that series. Kraus attended Stratford High School and was a member of the school’s wrestling team and played football during his freshman year. He graduated in 2020 and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, following his graduation to pursue his racing career near the center of the NASCAR industry.
Path to NASCAR
Kraus’s results in the Midwest and at regional super late model events drew the attention of Bill McAnally Racing, one of the most prominent teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. In January 2017, it was announced that Kraus would drive full-time for the team in the 2017 West Series season, piloting the No. 19 Toyota Camry. The announcement came after Kraus had tested for the team at Kern County Raceway Park earlier that year, confirming the team’s belief in his potential at the national developmental level.
During his rookie season, Kraus also made his K&N Pro Series East debut at New Smyrna Speedway, finishing third in the race. He scored career-best finishes of second at Kern County, Spokane County Raceway, and Colorado National Speedway in the West Series. He earned his first pole position at Iowa Speedway during a combination race between the East and West series and dominated portions of races at Meridian Speedway in Idaho before ultimately winning the season-finale at Kern County, beating teammate and series champion Todd Gilliland. He was named the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the 2018 NASCAR Next class, a recognition reserved for the sport’s most promising rising talents.
Derek Kraus Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Kraus’s early career was defined by rapid advancement through regional and developmental racing series. Before his full-time move to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, he dominated the Midwest Truck Series with a 2015 championship, won multiple karting and bandolero titles, and set age records at Rockford Speedway and in the ARCA Midwest Tour. His transition into the Bill McAnally Racing program in 2017 represented a significant step up in competition level and proved to be a productive partnership.
Throughout 2018 and 2019 with BMR, Kraus developed into one of the top young drivers in the NASCAR developmental ranks. In 2018, he won three K&N Pro Series West races, captured five pole positions across both East and West series competition, and was named to the 2018 NASCAR Next class. In 2019, he ran the full West Series schedule, capturing the championship by winning multiple races including a dominant pole-and-win performance at Douglas County Speedway and a fourth consecutive victory at Kern County Raceway. He clinched the title simply by starting the final race at ISM Raceway, where he finished third. He also made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in November 2018 at ISM Raceway, driving the No. 19 Toyota Tundra for Bill McAnally Racing and finishing eighth.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In January 2020, Bill McAnally Racing formed McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in partnership with fellow Stratford native Bill Hilgemann, fielding the No. 19 Tundra full-time in the Truck Series with Kraus as the driver. He opened the season with a career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway. At Darlington Raceway, he nearly scored his first career Truck Series win, finishing second to Ben Rhodes in an overtime finish. He returned to the team in 2021 with a new crew chief, Matt Noyce, after Kevin Bellicourt departed to crew chief the Spire Motorsports No. 77 car in the Cup Series. Kraus competed full-time in the Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing through the 2022 season.
On December 6, 2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Kraus would be replaced in the No. 19 truck by Christian Eckes for the 2023 season. Kraus made his Craftsman Truck Series season-opener start at Daytona in 2023, driving the No. 20 truck for Young’s Motorsports with plans to run additional races if sponsorship could be secured.
Kaulig Racing and NY Racing Team Era (2023–Present)
On March 21, 2023, Kraus made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Richmond Raceway, driving the No. 10 car for Kaulig Racing on a part-time schedule for the remainder of the season. On July 26, 2023, Kaulig Racing announced that Kraus would drive their No. 16 Cup Series car in practice and qualifying at Richmond, stepping in for A.J. Allmendinger who was racing at Road America the same day. Kraus was selected for the role due to his position as the team’s simulator driver, a role he continues to hold. He also completed simulator driving work for Legacy Motor Club during the 2023 season.
On February 22, 2024, Kaulig Racing announced that Kraus would compete part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet with his first start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For 2025, it was announced that Kraus would drive the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for NY Racing Team, including a start at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kraus has built a reputation as a strong competitor on short tracks and paved ovals, where his background in super late model racing translates directly to car control and racecraft. His 2019 K&N Pro Series West championship demonstrated an ability to manage season-long points competition while winning races. His early experience in go-karts and bandoleros, combined with his ARCA Midwest Tour success, reflects a solid foundation in car control and race craft that has allowed him to adapt across multiple NASCAR series.
Notable Races and Milestones
Kraus’s 2019 K&N Pro Series West championship run featured four consecutive wins at Kern County Raceway, highlighting his dominance at his home track in California. He also scored an overall Trans-Am Series victory at Sonoma Raceway in 2019, winning the pole and the race during a one-off appearance. His second-place finish to Ben Rhodes at Darlington in the 2020 Truck Series race came in an overtime finish and represented his best Truck Series result to date.
Derek Kraus Career Wins
Derek Kraus has accumulated wins across multiple NASCAR developmental series, most notably capturing the 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship with four race victories. He also scored wins in the K&N Pro Series East and in ARCA regional competition.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Highlights
Kraus won four career races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, all during his 2019 championship season. His first career West Series win came in the 2017 season finale at Kern County Raceway, where he beat teammate Todd Gilliland. In 2019, he won both races at the Tucson Speedway doubleheader, leading all 100 laps in the first event, then scored victories at Douglas County Speedway, Meridian Speedway, and Kern County to run his championship points lead to a level where simply starting the final race at ISM Raceway secured the title.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2019, Kraus competed in a one-off Trans-Am Series race at Sonoma Raceway, winning the pole and scoring an overall race victory. He also won the 2015 Midwest Truck Series championship during his pre-NASCAR career.
Derek Kraus Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kraus was born and raised in Stratford, Wisconsin, where his father Mark Kraus competed in super late model racing during the 2000s. That direct family involvement in racing provided Kraus with both inspiration and hands-on exposure to motorsports from a young age. In 2020, following his high school graduation, Kraus moved from Wisconsin to Charlotte, North Carolina, to be closer to the NASCAR industry and advance his professional racing opportunities.
Personal Life
Kraus attended Stratford High School, where he wrestled and played football during his freshman year. He graduated in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his graduation ceremony was rescheduled to July, which conflicted with his Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway on the same day. Kraus chose to compete in the race rather than attend the rescheduled ceremony. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Kraus entered the season driving the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for NY Racing Team in the NASCAR Cup Series on a part-time schedule. He made his first start of the season at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, qualifying 37th and finishing 32nd. He also competed at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, where the No. 44 car caught on fire and he was unable to finish the race.
